Apparatus and method for simultaneously painting both sides of a wire fence

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a spraying apparatus and method for applying coating material to perforate and imperforate objects such as wire fences and the like. The apparatus includes an applicator means for directing the coating material about the object being coated, at least one nozzle, carried by the applicator means, from which the coating material is emitted and means for applying a volume of air to the applicator at a reduced atmospheric pressure. The preferred method for applying the coating material includes the steps of spraying the coating material toward and past at least one side of the object being coated from the applicator means, creating a flow of air into and through said applicator means and drawing the sprayed coating material back into said applicator means thereby coating the opposite side of the object.

1 1 Jan. 21, 1975 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY PAINTING BOTH SIDES OF A WIRE FENCE [76] Inventor: Paul R. Wendling, 885 Hereford Dr,, Akron, Ohio 44303 [22] Filed: Dec. 28, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 429,053

[52] US. Cl 239/1, 118/326, 239/120, 239/124, 239/543 [51] Int. Cl B051) 17/00, B44d H08 [58] Field 0fSearch.......239/1,104,120,121,122, 239/124, 543, 545; 118/326, 305, 307;

Primary Examiner-Lloyd L. King Assistant Examiner-Randolph A. Reese Attorney, Agent, or FirmHamilt0n, Renner & Kenner [5 7] ABSTRACT Disclosed is a spraying apparatus and method for applying coating material to perforate and imperforate objects such as wire fences and the like. The apparatus includes an applicator means for directing the coating material about the object being coated, at least one nozzle, carried by the applicator means, from which the coating material is emitted and means for applying a volume of air to the applicator at a re duced atmospheric pressure. The preferred method for applying the coating material includes the steps of spraying the coating material toward and past at least one side of the object being coated from the applicator means, creating a flow of air into and through said applicator means and drawing the sprayed coating material back into said applicator means thereby coating the opposite side of the object.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATEHTED JANZI I975 SHEEI 10F 3 PATENTED JAN 21 I975 SHEET 2 OF 3 PATENTED 1 I975 3.861.594

sum 3 or 3 FIG. 7

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY PAINTING BOTH SIDES OF A WIRE FENCE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for spraying coating material onto perforate and imperforate objects. The apparatus is particularly suitable for spraying wire fences. screens or small objects wherein a fraction of the coating material generally adheres to the object surface in the spray path while the remainder passes around or through the object and is lost. Coating materials may include both powder and liquid types which can be atomized or emitted as a spray with pressurized air such as lubricants. solvents and paints.

Many attempts have been made to apply spray coatings to articles in a manner which minimizes both the amount of wasted spray. commonly referred to as overspray, and the amount of time necessary to spray all surfaces of the article. Thus when the nature of the article permits. it has been passed before a plurality of spray nozzles located so as to spray in more than one direction at a time. The article may also be rotated before a stationary spray nozzle in order to coat the entire periphery thereof without necessitating movement of the spray nozzle around the article. Such methods of automation are commonly employed in spray booths by factories but these have little application to stationary articles outside of the factories.

In an attempt to collect some of the overspray as well as to protect the surroundings adjacent the article being sprayed, shields or guards may be employed which collect the sprayed material. In the spray painting of wire fences or screens, for example, a great amount of sprayed material passes around the individual filaments of the fence or screen and is lost and may even damage the surface upon which it falls. Placing a shield on the fence or screen will deflect much of the overspray but this proves to be cumbersome as the shield must be moved as the spray head is advanced and often times the overspray accumulates upon the shield in such quantities that it may run causing dripping. Moreover, the operator must return to spray the opposite side of the fence or screen, thereby utilizing more time and material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is. therefore. an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for applying coating material to perforate objects such as wire fences, screens and the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for spraying coating materials upon the front and rear faces of small imperforate articles.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for spraying coating materials. in particular paint, upon the front and rear face of perforate and imperforate objects simultaneously while spraying from either side of the object.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for spraying coating materials such as lubricants. solvents and paints upon perforate and imperforate articles, which minimizes overspray and consequently the need for protective shielding of adjacent surroundings.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for spraying coating materials with a minimum of waste as any excess material normally lost as overspray is captured for recycling through the apparatus.

These and other objects, together with the advantages thereof over existing and prior art forms. which will become apparent from the following specification, are accomplished by means hereinafter described and claimed.

In general, an apparatus embodying the concept of the present invention includes an applicator means for directing the coating material about the object being coated, at least one nozzle carried by said applicator means from which the coating material is emitted and means for creating a flow of air into and through said applicator means having a pressure sufficient to draw the coating material emitted from said nozzle into said applicator means.

The preferred method for applying coating material to perforate and small imperforate objects, includes the steps of: spraying the coating material toward and past at least one side of the object being coated from an applicator means having at least one spray nozzle; creating a flow of air into and through the applicator means and drawing the sprayed coating material back into the applicator means thereby coating the opposite side of the object.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspecitve view depicting a portion of the apparatus simultaneously applying a coating of paint on both sides of a wire fence from one side.

FIGv 2 is an overall top plan view. partially in section. of the apparatus.

Flg. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the applicator means for applying coating material.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front elevation of the applicator means for applying coating material.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section taken substantially along line 55 of FIG. 2 and appearing on the same sheet of drawings as FIG. 1, and depicting the baffles positioned within a paint separator means.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of a modified applicator means for applying coating material.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the applicator means depicted in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The apparatus described hereinafter is very effective in the spray application of paint to wire fences, particularly when the fence denies the painter access to both sides. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the apparatus may readily be adapted to apply other coating materials such as lubricants. or solvents for cleaning purposes, or powders. to a variety of perforate objects. that is, objects having open spaces through which the spray customarily passes as it travels from the spray nozzles. As will be described hereinbelow, upon passage of the material through the open areas of the object. it is drawn back through and into the apparatus. coating the rear face of the object as it returns.

Moreover, such an apparatus may be utilized in the coating of imperforate articles having an area smaller than that of the spray pattern. In such an application. spray directed toward the imperforate object will contact at least the leading or front face, while the overspray flows around the sides and beyond the object. Then, as the spray is returned to the apparatus, it contacts the rear face as well as the sides thereby coating all surfaces while spraying from only one side. In many factory operations, a plurality of such objects may be passed before the apparatus so long as they are separated by open spaces, just as there are open spaces between successive and adjacent filaments of a screen or a fence. It is therefore contemplated that both perfrate and imperforate articles are to be included within the terminology of object or article.

The apparatus. referred to generally by the numeral is depicted in FIG. 2 and includes an applicator means, generally 11, a paint separator means, generally I2, and an exhaust fan 13. The fan 13 has an exhaust port 14 which communicates with the atmosphere. The intake of the fan 13 is connected via a duct 15 to the rear of the paint separator means I2, and a second, flexible duct or hose I6 connects the front of the separator means 12 to the rear of the applicator means II. When the fan I3 is operating a large volume of air is exhausted from the apparatus I0 generally creating a reduced pressure therein and causing a flow of air into the mouth of the applicator means in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 2. The fan 13 may be driven by an electric motor 17 through a belt 18. Because the apparatus I0 is particularly suitable for painting fences outdoors, where electricity may not be readily available, the motor 17 may be run by a gasoline driven generator, not shown, or alternatively, a gasoline engine may be utilized to drive the fan 13.

The applicator means II consists of a hood 19, preferably fabricated from sheet metal or similar material. The hood I9 has a flared opening 20 which is thereafter generally rectangular in cross-section gradually tapering rearwardly to a round flange 21. Suitable handles, such as 22 and 23, may be conveniently fastened to the hood I9 to aid the operator in supporting and directing the applicator means 11 toward an object, such as the fence F. depicted in FIG. I.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the applicator means 11 preferably has two spray nozzles 24 and 25 located at the opposite ends, 26 and 28 respectively, of the hood 19. The nozzles 24 and 25 are located at the widest ends as in FIG. 4 so as to create a wide cloud of spray. Of course, in some applications, it may be de sirable to utilize only one nozzle or several nozzles and to locate these at different positions about the hood 19, or even to change the general configuration of the mouth 20. The nozzles 24 and 25 are somewhat angularly disposed with respect to a plane parallel to the mouth 20 ofthe hood l9 and as depicted in FIG. 3, the spray material emitted therefrom would generally cross at a point several inches in front of the mouth 20 generally in line with the center of the hood 19.

The nozzles 24 and 25 are removably held by fittings 29 and 30, respectively. Tubes 31 and 32 extend from the fittings 29 and to a tee 33, which is in turn fitted with a single hose 34. The tubing 31, 32 and hose 34 is generally mounted on the exterior surface of the hood 19 to facilitate assembly and subsequent cleaning. The hose 34 extends into a supply of paint and pump, not shown, which as in the case of the fan 13, may be suitably driven by gasoline or electricity.

As illustrated by the drawings, the nozzles 24 and 25 are preferably airless tips, that is, the paint is pumped at high pressure, is atomized at the nozzles and travels at a high velocity toward the fence or other object to be coated. While such an arrangement is successful in the painting of wire fences, if it be desirable, the paint may also be propelled with air in which case external mix nozzles would be utilized to mix the paint material and air to form a spray as depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7 and hereinafter more fully described. In either event the paint or other coating material and air if utilized, may be selectively controlled by a conventional triggering device or by merely activating the pump or compressor or both.

After the paint spray particles have traveled several inches from the mouth 20 of the hood 19, their velocity has decreased to a speed at which they are captured by the flow of air rushing into the hood [9, when the fan I3 is operating. In order to capture substantially all of the spray material emitted from the nozzles 24 and 25, the mouth 20 is dimensioned somewhat higher through the center, between points 35 and 36 in FIG. 4, than its height at the ends 26 and 28. Paired upper and lower flanges, 38, 39 and 40, 41, respectively, are formed at the mouth 20 and extend away from the body of the hood 19. The flanges 38-41 are necessary to minimize the draw of air into the mouth 20 from areas immediately aft and otherwise outside the spray pattern, thereby promoting an increased volume of air flow and spray material into the mouth 20 from areas generally in front of the mouth 20. A screen 42 is preferably fitted toward the inner, rearward portion of the hood 19 to trap any foreign debris inadvertently drawn into the hood 19 with the flow of air and spray material.

Insofar as the actual spraying operations are primarily centered about the applicator means 11, it is desirable to provide an adequate amount of mobility therewith and to minimize the frequency of movement ofthe entire apparatus 10. Therefore, the length of flexible conduit may be approximately 2535 feet between the applicator means 11 and the fan 13, depending upon the volume of air moved by the fan. Although the air and recaptured spray material may be exhausted directly out of port 14, it is generally desirable to sepa rate the spray material from the air. To accomplish this an impingement separator 12 may be employed between the fan 13 and applicator means 11, preferably closer to the fan 13 to minimize movement thereof. Such separators are commercially available or may readily be fabricated. A separator 12 may be fabricated from an empty steel drum having a bottom 51 and removable cover 52. A hole 53 is cut in the bottom SI and a short conduit 15 is mounted therein and is connected to the fan 13. A similar hole 54 is cut in the cover 52 and a relatively long section of flexible conduit 16 is mounted therein. The opposite end of the conduit I6 is attached to the end 2I of the hood 19. The conduit 16 is generally the same diameter as the conduit 15 and is preferably manufactured from a large diameter rubber hose which may be reinforced with steel to prevent collapse.

Inside of the drum 50, is mounted a series of alternating large and small diameter baffles, 55 and 56, respectively, as depicted in FIGS. 2 and S. The diameter of the large baffles 55 is slightly less than the inner diameter of the drum 50 to facilitate removal thereof. Each baffle 55 has a bore 58 whose diameter is approximately equal to the radius of the baffle 55, through which the air and spray material flow. Immediately behind the first large baffle 55 is a smaller baffle 56 having a diameter greater than the bore 58 and less than that of the baffle 55. A series of identical baffles 5S and 56 are so arranged by spacing bars such as 59. The bar 59 may be long threaded rod or a smooth rod or hollow pipe having threaded ends. A bore through each baffle 55 and 56 permits passage of the bar 59, and the baffles are maintained several inches apart one from the other by spacers 60 which may be short sections of pipe. A nut 61 is provided at each end against the first and last baffles to maintain all baffles upright within the drum 50. Nuts 62, at the very ends of the bar 59, may be provided for fine adjustment of the baffles between the end 51 and cover 52 of the drum 50. Generally three bars 59, equally spaced, are adequate to secure all baffles 55 and 56 in proper alignment.

As the air and spray material enter the drum 50 from the hose 16 it expands somewhat and is quickly drawn through the bore 58 while contacting the baffle 55. Passing quickly through the bore 58, the mixture hits the solid, smaller baffle 56 upon which an amount of the spray material is deposited. The mixture is then drawn around the periphery of the small baffle 56 and through the bore 58 to the next small baffle 56. By the time the air and spray meaterial has passed around and through several pairs of large and small baffles, substantially all of the spray material has been deposited upon the baffle surfaces and after a small accumulation thereon gravity causes it to collect at the bottom of the drum 50. The drum 50 may be slightly elevated at the forward end, near the cover 52, allowing the excess spray material to flow toward the rear. A small drain hose 63 may be employed to draw off the recovered spray material, which then may be recycled or properly discarded as desired.

As should be evident from the foregoing description, with the apparatus 10, the operator merely activates a paint pump or spray compressor and the intake fan 13 to commence spraying. By holding the applicator means 11 directly in front of a chain wire fence F, as illustrated in FIG. 1, or other object to be coated, spray material from nozzles 24 and 25 is deposited directly on the facing sides of the fence F. As the excess spray material passes through the voids in the fence F and gradually loses it velocity, the current of air drawn through the fence, from the rear side, captures it. At this time the spray material from the opposed nozzles 24 and 25 has fanned out into a cloud of fairly uniform density which actually coats the rear side of the fence, as if sprayed therefrom, while it is being drawn into the applicator means 11.

Although not shown, it is intended to be within the scope of the present invention to provide for the regulation of air flow and spray material at the applicator means 11, depending upon the type of spraying operation performed. Thus, as exemplary of one embodiment, applying paint to a wire fence, the following values have given satisfactory results. Using an applicator 11. having a mouth area of approximately 1 square foot, paint flow is adjusted so as to travel approximately 4 to 6 inches directly in front of the mouth 20, before being captured by the current of air drawn into the hood 19. Since the nozzles 24 and 25 are not perpendicularly disposed with respect to the fence F, much of the forward velocity is dispersed across the mouth of the hood 19, rather than directly away from it. This helps to create a broader pattern for greater coverage,

and additionally enables the velocity of the paint to decrease fairly close to the mouth of the hood 19. The current of air being drawn into the mouth 20 is supplied through the hose 16 which has a diameter of approximately 6 inches and a length of about 25 feet. The air is supplied by the fan 13 moving approximately 1000 c.f.m. Other factors, such as the drying time of the paint and its viscosity can readily be determined and varied by those skilled in the art according to the particular requisites of the application.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7 a modified applicator means, generally indicated by the numeral 111, is depicted and consists of a hood 119, preferably fabricated from sheet metal or similar material. The hood 119 has a rectangularly shaped opening or mouth 120 which gradually tapers rearwardly to a round flange 121. Suitable handles, such as 122 and 123, may be conveniently fastened to the hood 119 to aid the operator in supporting and directing the applicator means 111 toward the wire fence or other object to be coated.

The applicator means 111 preferably has two external mix spray nozzles 124 and 125 mounted on the external side wall 126 of the hood 119. The nozzles 124 and 125 are carried by supply mounting elements, 128 and 129 respectively, which are in turn adjustably mounted on either side wall 126 or 130 of the hood 119 by a threaded rod 131 supported by brackets 132 and 133. The upper supply element 128 has a bore receiving the rod 131 and is adjustably held thereon as by nuts 134 and 135. Similarly, the lower supply element 129 is adjustably held on rod 131 by nuts 136 and 138. In this manner the distance between nozzles 124 and 125 may be varied as well as their location with respect to the mouth 120 of the hood 119. Of course only one nozzle or more than the two nozzles shown may be utilized which will be dictated by the requirements of the particular application. The nozzles 124 and 125 are generally perpendicularly disposed with respect to a plane parallel to the mouth 120. Preferably, the nozzles 124 and 125 should also be directed to spray slightly inwardly toward the mouth 120 rather than parallel with or away from the hood 119. During spraying, the emitted particles will travel several inches away from the hood 119 before being drawn into the mouth 120 by the flow of air created by the exhaust fan 13. An external flange (not shown) may be provided about the mouth 120 to minimize the draw of air from areas immediately aft and otherwise outside the spray pattern as carried by the hood 119 previously described. A small lip 139 may be provided at the bottom of the hood 119 to prohibit dripping of paint which accumulates therein.

The paint or other coating material is supplied and moved by a source not shown through a tube 140 connected to a tee 141. Flexible tubes 142 and 143 join the supply elements 128 and 129 to the tee 141 readily accommodating adjustment of the elements 128 and 129 upon the threaded rod 131. Fluid adjustment bolts 144 and 145 may be carried by the elements, 128 and 129 respectively, to adjust the supply of coating material to the nozzles 124 and 125, or any other suitable trigger ing mechanisms may be employed. Similarly, air is supplied from a compressor (not shown) through a tube 146 to a tee 148. Flexible tubes 149 and 150 join the supply elements 128 and 129 to the tee 148 also accommodating the movement of the elements 128 and 129.

Inside of the applicator 111, a baffle 151, having a supporting rib [52, is adjustably mounted by a nut I53 and bolt [54 near the rear flange 121 and extends forwardly toward the mouth 120. The purpose of the baffle 151 is to balance the flow of air drawn into the hood I19 by the intake fan 13. As depicted in FIG. 6, the air and coating material drawn into the hood 119 pass through the flexible hose 16 which may be fastened to the rear flange l2l as by a conventional hose clamp I55.

Operation ofthe apparatus 10 utilizing the applicator 111 is similar to the operation previously described in conjunction with the applicator 11. When spraying paint, the liquid is supplied to the nozzles 124 and 125 at a lower pressure e.g., 5l() p.s.i., than when using airless nozzles such as 24 and 25. Air pressure supplied to the nozzles 124 and 125 may be regulated according to the particular requirements of the application, as will be determinable by those skilled in the art, and it may be regulated with conventional gauges and valves.

Thus. it should be evident that an apparatus ac cording to the concepts of the present invention has been shown and described in sufficient detail to permit one skilled in the art to apply spray materials therewith to fences and related objects. Moreover, it should be apparent that the apparatus 10 may be regulated to apply other coating materials such as solvents or powders Since various modifications in detail, material and arrangements are within the spirit of the invention herein disclosed and described, the scope of the invention should be limited solely by the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A spraying apparatus for simultaneously applying paint to the facing and opposite sides of a wire fence from one of the sides comprising: a hood having a mouth of generally rectangular configuration, flange means extending outwardly from said mouth to inhibit the flow of air into said hood from behind said mouth and a body gradually tapering to a rear flange; at least one nozzle carried by said hood externally of said body for spraying the paint beyond said mouth, against the facing side of the fence and therethrough; and, a fan mounted in communication with said rear flange to draw air from the opposite side of the fence, thereby to capture only the paint having passed through the wire fence and paint the opposite side thereof as the paint and flow of air pass into and through said hood and said apparatus.

2. A spraying apparatus. as in claim I, wherein said hood carries two opposed spray nozzles generally angularly disposed with respect to a plane parallel to said mouth.

3. A spraying apparatus, as in claim 1, wherein said hood carries two spray nozzles generally perpendicularly disposed with respect to a plane parallel to said mouth.

4. A spraying apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising means interposed between said hood and said fan for separating and collecting the paint from the flow of air subsequent to its passage through said hood.

5. A method for simultaneously applying paint to both sides of a wire fence from one side thereof comprising the steps of: spraying the paint toward and past the facing side of the wire fence from a hood having at least one spray nozzle; operating a fan so as to create a separate flow of air into and through said hood; and, drawing said sprayed paint back into said hood thereby coating the rear side of the wire fencev 6. A method for spraying paint, as in claim 5, including the additional step of separating said paint and accompanying air drawn into said hood from each other with a separator means interposed between said hood and said fan. 

1. A spraying apparatus for simultaneously applying paint to the facing and opposite sides of a wire fence from one of the sides comprising: a hood having a mouth of generally rectangular configuration, flange means extending outwardly from said mouth to inhibit the flow of air into said hood from behind said mouth and a body gradually tapering to a reaR flange; at least one nozzle carried by said hood externally of said body for spraying the paint beyond said mouth, against the facing side of the fence and therethrough; and, a fan mounted in communication with said rear flange to draw air from the opposite side of the fence, thereby to capture only the paint having passed through the wire fence and paint the opposite side thereof as the paint and flow of air pass into and through said hood and said apparatus.
 2. A spraying apparatus, as in claim 1, wherein said hood carries two opposed spray nozzles generally angularly disposed with respect to a plane parallel to said mouth.
 3. A spraying apparatus, as in claim 1, wherein said hood carries two spray nozzles generally perpendicularly disposed with respect to a plane parallel to said mouth.
 4. A spraying apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising means interposed between said hood and said fan for separating and collecting the paint from the flow of air subsequent to its passage through said hood.
 5. A method for simultaneously applying paint to both sides of a wire fence from one side thereof comprising the steps of: spraying the paint toward and past the facing side of the wire fence from a hood having at least one spray nozzle; operating a fan so as to create a separate flow of air into and through said hood; and, drawing said sprayed paint back into said hood thereby coating the rear side of the wire fence.
 6. A method for spraying paint, as in claim 5, including the additional step of separating said paint and accompanying air drawn into said hood from each other with a separator means interposed between said hood and said fan. 